Tate Liverpool at 30. Ken’s Show: Exploring the Unseen

2018 marks Tate Liverpool’s 30th anniversary. Since opening in 1988 one man has been a constant presence at the Albert Dock gallery: Art Handling Manager Ken Simons. To celebrate this landmark year, Tate Liverpool will present a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of 30 artists’ works from the Tate collection curated and conceived by Ken.

Ken’s Show: Exploring the Unseen, in the ground floor Wolfson Gallery, includes some of his favourite artworks – many of which he has previously installed in the galleries. Together the works explore the unseen or mysterious spaces in our world and point to Ken’s particular interest in sculptural and landscape art. Many of the chosen artists have worked directly with Ken, and a number of their works have now become central to the Tate collection.

Key works will include Light Red Over Black 1957 by Mark Rothko which was exhibited in 1988 when Tate Liverpool opened, Phillip King’s large sculpture Within 1978-9, Snow Storm – Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth 1842 by J.M.W. Turner, Hollow Form with White 1965 by Barbara Hepworth and The Tree A c.1913 by Piet Mondrian which has been exhibited in all three decades of the gallery’s history in 1998, 2003 and 2014.

Ken Simons said: ‘This is an amazing opportunity to display some of my favourite works from Tate collection after so many years getting to know the works personally. It is through this hands-on interaction and curating this show that I learnt and understood much more about artists’ exploration of space.’